Ensemble History

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In November 2017, Andrew Heath organized a series of brass ensemble reading sessions aimed at playing through standard brass choir repertoire with advanced community musicians. By early 2018, the group of 15 musicians was rehearsing weekly and adopted the name Mystic Brass Ensemble, in reference to the Mystic Lakes region of Arlington.

In March 2018, MBE performed its first concert, a program of Dukas, Wagner, Bach, Gabrieli, Janacek, Mahler, Strauss, and Piazzola.

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Now with a roster of 23 musicians plus frequent guest artists, MBE has performed music by nine living composers, and has hosted soloists such as New England Conservatory’s Dr. Thomas Handel and Handel & Haydn Society’s Janet Ross.

With full ensemble performances at Arlington’s Cyrus Dallin Museum and Spy Pond Park, MBE’s Chamber Players have appeared at Belmont PorchFest and the Robbins Farm concert series.

 

In 2022 MBE adopted a four-concert season format, including three full classical concerts, and a Holiday Pops concert. As of 2023, the ensemble has over three hours of fully mastered, free content available for viewing on YouTube, and records and masters content from each of its performances.